Chapter Seventeen

L A N G U A G E: hi!

When they entered the library Lambert went to the counter while he went to the cradle. The place didn’t smell so bad, now that the lady was here.

He wondered when that bitch was going to move. Her bells are developing stripes.

The selection was bland.

“Hair, body, and feet are the most common. They are in the stamina category. Hair for multitasking, body for strength and stability, and feet for long distance travel. Each have their strengths and weaknesses.”

Adam munched on some berries. They were creamy.

“Feet users channel their mana through their soles. If they feel like jumping, you must bend and work with mana-”

Osiris lifted the book off his stomach. It was a bit itchy after that, the spot. The boy sneezed.

Every author was so complicated with mana. The words were long and boring.

His mana was already there, already waiting, why were they trying to prepare and wait on something already waiting?

Osiris just thought he had to jump with the height in mind, now that knows mana is there. Well he doesn’t really know but a feeling can get you a long way. And he felt mana.

It was just a little violent.

His mana wiggled, numbing his heel for a brief second.

Right, he can just j-

“Osiris.”

The eye above her head looked upset.

“What are you doing?”

Her hands were around his ankles.

“I wasn’t going to try to jump.”

“Jump? What?”

“The book gave the idea.”

Lambert eyed the cover.

“But why jump here?”

Adam scrunched his brows.

“I wasn’t trying to jump here.”

Lambert paused.

“The way you were thinking was telling your body it wanted to jump... Do you have any headaches?”

Adam was going to jump, but he guessed now was not the time to admit that.

“Give me more food.”

Lambert was getting tired of these demands. She also needed to prepare more food after this visit.

“I only have a few more after this.”

“‘Tiss fine.. What’s the point of all this?”

“To prepare you for the academy.”

Adam remained quiet for the rest of the day. At the end, when he was sure no one was in his room Adam held his stomach.

He was still hungry.

He needed to double his intake.

Adam found a spot under his bed and laid on his back. Wood planks stared back at him and together they laid in the quiet, muggy night.

Weather was wet and hot, like the days after a storm in a desert. The air was sticky.

“Usually they go to the academy starting at eight, but royals don’t start til they are thirteen. They get special tutoring until then. Osiris never even went to the academy until he was sixteen.” “Was he held back or something?” “What! No. He had to fight in a war-”

Adam closed his eyes.

The wood smelled new.

P A S S I N G : TIME STOPS FOR NO ONE

The days turned to weeks.

When he got used to Lambert another showed up. At first the lessons started with Lambert coming and going with him, but when it came time for him to start lessons alone the maul started up again.

It started with comments.

“It’s a pity you’re this far behind, the Crown Price was already learning more than this.”

The words did nothing to Adam but the tutor kept pushing it day in and day out.

“Your mother would be disappointed in you, just like the King and Queen are-”

Again, the words did nothing.

Today was no different, the lady was going off on how he sucked, and how he was worthless, yeah he’s heard everything before from his actual mother.. First actual mother. Adam munched on some berries he stole from his pocket.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“You done?”

The tutor’s face twisted.

Adam was well aware that she wasn’t teaching him anything, nor did she plan to. He had a feeling no one was going to teach him in hopes he fails.

“You always talk back.”

The mood flipped. Adam sat up. Her bell rang.

“You always talk back. You never listen. Why are you even here?”

The small ribbon on the bell shot down, piercing the tutor in the skull.

“-lways. You never answer when spoken to- ‘Noisy.’ -nor do you even know a thing about mana-”

Adam needed to run.

The tutor's hands lit up and a thin, wrinkly looking creature made of skin with teeth flew at him. Adam moved his hand to block but the creature grasped his skin and twisted its own body until both of his hands were locked behind his back.

He stumbled off his seat.

“Always so noisy.”

The lady grabbed him by his arm and lifted him, placing all this weight onto that single joint. His teeth clenched. She then walked to her desk and threw him onto it, stomach first.

“It is very common for teachers to impose punishment when a student doesn’t listen.”

Adam tried to turn but hands held him down. His legs were stretched out. Adam fought harder. His feet were bare, healed, but shoeless. He can’t wear shoes anymore. Lambert told him his father was looking into alternatives, but now is not the time to be thinking about that!

“-a few strikes. But for the past few weeks you have been very noisy. Thirty lashes should do.”

Adam strained his neck to look back. The crazy bitch was holding a fucking sjambok. Adam could see the leather glisten. It was new.

“You crazy bitch.”

Adam tried to think. Mana. He had mana. But how the fuck does he use it here? To kick?

The first lash broke skin. Adam’s eyes watered. This wasn’t right.

“One.”

THINK.

Another lash.

“Two.”

There was no way she was going to get away with this. Adam heard the bell chime again. This time the lashing cut so deep his mana cried out. Adam bucked. The eye above the bell smiled.

Adam popped his knee and pressed. He twisted until his foot could touch the table.

Move.

There was a pop. Adam flew straight into the bookshelves behind her desk. The wounds on his feet stretched open. A tear fell. Adam stumbled off the shelf and ran to the door.

“Where are you going?!”

Adam lifted his foot and kicked.

The door flew across the hall and right into the wall. Wood flew around like confetti.

Faster.

He could hear her behind him.

The bell chimed and a symphony responded.

Adam snapped his head back and forth as workers' with bells all started to leave rooms. He could see corpses lying on the floors and blood on their clothes.

Move it.

The bells floated over their heads as pieces of ribbons infested their skin like a fungus. All the eyes were smiling.

He still hasn’t found the front doors.

When he was cornered Adam moved up a level. And when that failed, he managed to snag a hiding place in the King’s bedroom. Adam fiddled once more with the flesh demon ensnaring his arms. The damn bastard was on there good.

While he was deep in his plight someone found him.

PAIN.

Adam was scared. He’s been at this an hour. Lambert nor his father has shown up. Everyone but the bells is dead. He was dead.

The man dislocated his jaw.

Osiris cried.

He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die-

The boy got his foot under the man's jaw and with his entire being he wailed, Go Away.

Pop.

The man’s head looked like Adam took a double barrel shotgun and shot it right in his face.

The body fell back.

“Adam, you almost killed him.” Isabella was pissed. Adam had gotten into it with her ex again, the bastard called him a faggot, again, and Adam beat the shit out of him. “I didn’t almost kill him.” “He’s in surgery, Adam.” “..” Isabella hugged him. “I know you didn’t do it on purpose.” Adam’s lip quivered. “I didn’t.” “I know.” “I really didn’t.” “I know.” A sob. “I really didn’t mean to.” “I know.” “I’m not a killer. I’m not.” Isabella started to cry. “I know.” “I just wanted him to stop.” “I know.” He weeped. “Why didn’t he just stop-”

Adam was frozen in place.

“Haven’t you ever thought about it?” Adam finished another set. “About what?” Adam was annoyed. The new hire was another fan of his. “You know…” He looked around then whispered. “Killing someone.” Adam rolled his eyes. He gets asked this quite often. A lot of people assume he could kill anyone and be fine with it. Like he somehow lacked morals just because he loved to fight. “No.” “No?” “No.” “Why not?” Adam looked at him. “Do you think about killing people?” “No.” “There you go.”

He could hear them coming from down the hall.

“It’s the rush!” Adam was high. “Just getting in there, punching and kicking and fighting. I live for that stuff!” Adam hopped in place and punched the air. “It’s the game I chose to play!” Adam was feeling himself. “The pain sucks but..” Adam’s smile was warm. “It’s not like I’m trying to kill anyone.”

Ten bells chimed.

“I made it!” Adam yelled as he busted open Isabella’s door. The fake wood groaned and bellowed. “What?” Isabella looked unamused. She was studying. “I got in, I got my first ranked match!” Isabella blinked. “Really?” “Really!” “Really, really??” “Really, really!”

The steps grew louder.

“I like to fight, I’m not a monster.” Adam was six. “My mom and dad fight all the time.” “But it hurts!” “Then don’t pick on me.” “I wasn’t.” “We’re too.” “My mom said people who fight are bad people.” “I’m not bad.” “But my mom said people who fight also kill.” “I don’t kill, why would I want to do that?” “I don’t know.” Adam scoffed. “It’s just a game.”

There was a commotion outside and Adam was still stuck in place. The blood from the body had pooled around his butt. He lowered his leg. The King ran into the room. Adam looked at his feet.

His mana was singing.

He looked at the body.

In response his mana vibrated. It was happy. Adam felt like he was going to be sick.

Adam vomited right into his own lap.

“Osiris!”

Adam looked at the chunks of apples he had for breakfast.

The Socotra has matured.